What is that thing?

“Rrf grrrar r hrrrfgh…”

Just above the fireplace is a flat rectangular… thing. It's like a moving talking painting. There's a dragon on it sitting and growling stuff and looking professional. Behind it is another painting of some kind of map that it is gesturing to.

The longer I'm here the weirder things get. I need to get out of here…

The white hatchling a few feet away from me is looking at the tv too. The sounds and moving colors catching its attention.

My eyes shift over to the closed curtains with a window behind it. Sunlight shines against it with some leaking through. Another possible escape route, but it's probably got some kind of locking mechanism.

The white dragon with antlers returns to the couch next to Yellow. In its mouth is a torn open light brown paper package. It takes it from its mouth and sets in on the coffee table between the hatchling and I.

Meat. Red raw meat is in it that the dragon then cuts in half with a claw. Yellow growls something to Antlers as it slides half the meat to its side.

Antler replied with more growls and slides its half of the meat closer to the hatchling.

The sound catches the hatchling’s attention, turning around. As soon as its eyes catch sight of the meat it suddenly latches its teeth and claws to it. Tearing off a chunk it swallows it and goes for more.

Geez. Is it really that hungry?

The sound of something being slid next to me catches my attention.

Raw meat sitting on top of its torn packaging.

My body then moved on its own in a flash. Maw open, claws extended with muscles I didn't know I had. A horrible feeling of not being in control.

Just as my body was about to take a bite I forced myself back with all my might. Stumbling back I stop a few feet away. My scales feel like they are crawling and my mind feeling like it had been stuffed full of wool.

What was that?!

I quickly look away from the meat and turn towards the fireplace. Afraid to look at the meat again.

What happened to me there? Why did my body do that? Was that my body that did that? It just reacted on its own.

The dragon are talking behind me. Are they watching me? Did I blow my cover or something? Was that a test?

I can feel their eyes on me.

Maybe I should try taking my chances with the window now?

But instead of the growls turning aggressive like I was waiting for they instead stay calm. Curious growl and then two of them go to the kitchen.

I look back to check while trying to keep the meat out of my view. The two white dragons are in the kitchen side and Yellow is on the couch looking at me with concern.

Concern? For me?

…When was the last time someone's shown me concern?

The thought made me pause.

No, now's not the time to think of things like that.

My stomach aches with hunger, reminding me of how hungry I am. Should I risk looking at the meat? What if it happens again?

If it happens again I'll be ready this time.

Turning my body back around again I slowly look to the meat. Yellow looks to have slid it away at some point but its still out on the table.

No reaction. Not even a twitch. Maybe its proximity?

Standing up I take a step forward. Then another step.

As I slowly approach the meat my eyes are locked on it and I have my full focus on reacting at any second.

The feeling of my brain being stuffed with wool is slowly going away.

Halfway to the meat a big yellow scaled claw covers it. Stopping my approach I look up to Yellow who is looking hesitant. It reminds me of a worried mother.

Why stop me? Is the dragon aware of something?

We make eye contact and after a few seconds it looks like it comes to some kind of decision. It removes its claws and I approach the meat.

the slow little clacking of my claws on the table come to a stop before the meat and I stare down at it.

No reaction.

This wouldn't be the first time I've eaten raw meat. Being who I am my career tends to go south. More than once I've been forced to do it. Of course id usually get sick after but that's better than dying of hunger.

Lowering my head I sink my teeth into it.

Room temperature blood meets my tongue and instead of the bad taste I'm familiar with it just tastes like an unseasoned rare steak. Bland.

Tightening my jaws a chunk is taken and I swallow it before I go for more.

Yellow lets out a sigh of relief and gently growls something.

The sounds of cooking clatters from the kitchen. Once I finish the meat I feel full and the smell of food being cooked wafts from the kitchen side.

Were they cooking? Dragons cooking in a kitchen?

They just keep getting stranger.

Once I'm done I step away from the empty paper packaging and return to the cushion. Yellow picks up the paper and the couch squeaks as it gets up and joins the other two dragons in the kitchen.

Perfect. Now's my chance to make an escape.

Standing up, my claws lightly clack on the table as I make my way to the end of it. Coming to the edge of it i stop and look down the side.

Doesn't look like a far drop and the floor is carpeted. I can get down just fine.

Jumping down, my claws meet the carpet with a thump. Taking a few steps forward towards the second couch a heavy weight suddenly lands on top of me, flattening me to the carpet.

“Urgh!” I wheeze out as the white hatchling gets off of me and i get off the floor. The hatchling makes a little chirp and butts its head against my side wanting to play. Seeming to not care if it hurt me.

“No. Not again. Get lost, kid.” I put my claws to its chest and gently push it back. I can't waste my time when my window of escape could be short on time. Glancing to the dragons in the kitchen it looks like they are getting ready to eat. Food is being put on plates at the kitchen island.

The hatchling lets out a sad noise as I walk away to the foot of the couch. The climb looks steep but maybe i can jump high enough and get my claws in it?

Taking a step back I crouch and then spring up. Barely getting any air I attempt to get my claws in but they glance off of the smooth material. A few more attempts and I've made barely any progress at climbing. Looking at my claws I see that they are blunt. I then look around for something I could used to boost myself up. My body is annoyingly already feeling tired…

At first I don't see anything useful but then my eyes fall on the hatchling.

Maybe I could use it as a stool?

The hatchling walks up to the couch I'm trying to climb and leaps up. Its sharp claws sink into it and it easily climbs to the top.

“Hey, mind helping me up?” Can it even understand me?

At the top it sits at the edge and looks down at me with disinterest. Visibly unhappy that I don't want to play with it.

I then notice that its tail is hanging over the side just within jumping range.

“Sorry but I'm in no mood to play.” Springing up I outstretch my claws to grab its tail. Missing by an inch i fall back to the floor and the hatchling looks interested at the new game. I jump again but the demon moves its tail out of the way of my claws.

“There's no way this brat is messing with me like this…” I grumble to myself and ready to jump again.

A few more attempts later the hatchling is having fun until I suddenly have a hold of its tail. The hatchling lets out a surprised squeak and anchors its claws to the couch as its getting dragged down. As the kid is getting pulled down I'm using its body as a ladder and climbing my way over it.

My claws make it to the top edge of the couch and I pull myself up. The hatchling pulls itself up after me.

I make an attempt to jump up the back of the couch to get to the very top where the window is but its much higher than getting to the seat was. I fall back down onto the soft seat and the hatchling tackles me from behind, letting out a squeaking war cry.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Before things could escalate, big claws suddenly puck up the hatchling off of me and another claw picks me up.

No! I was so close!

I'm carried back to the table by Antlers and set back on my cushion. The dragon looks me over for injuries as Yellow sets the hatchling down on its cushion. The kid lets out happy chirps.

While the hatchling had just wanted to play it had been rough enough to cause minor damage in that second. Not enough to draw blood but I could feel that some of my scales were damaged and there are shallow cuts. Not that it bothered me since I've had much worse.

Antlers looks me over and huffs at the damage. Yellow looks over too and lightly frowns. The two then talk or growl before abruptly stopping and a square white box is deposited onto the table.

Yellow touches a rectangular rectangle on the couch and the moving painting turns black and silent. Antlers opens the white little box and a deck of cards is pulled out. Half is given to Yellow and they shuffle what they have.

What is going on? Were they going to play a card game now?

Antlers makes a noise and I look to him, who smiles. He takes a card in his claws and flips it around to show me. On the card is a painting of a plain wooden chair.

“Rraff. Rraff.”

Confused as to what the dragon wants, I lift a claw of my own and reach out to take it. Antler moves the card out of my reach and shakes its head. Putting my claw back down, the dragon gestures to the card again.

“Rraff.”

Slowly it began to dawn on me what its trying to do. On the other side of the table next to me Yellow is doing the same with the hatchling. In Yellow's claw is a card with a tree on it. “Fuhhf. Fuhhf.” Yellow repeats to the hatchling who is tilting its head in confusion.

Are they trying to teach us to speak?

I look back to Antlers who puts the card down and shows me another one with a spoon on it.

“Ghhru. Ghhru.”

Should I even bother with this? But if I do play along I could learn how to speak dragon, might make me a lot of money or get me laid more often. Either way I should try to gain what I can while I find a way out.

“Ghuullll.” I butcher the word but Antler looks happy at my attempt. He repeats himself and I try again.

“G-ghhur.”

“Ghhru.” He tells me again but slower and more gentle. Showing patience and a look in his eyes that felt alien to me. The look of someone who cares. The thought makes my heart clench and I immediately push it away. It's just a dumb dragon. Ignore it. Take what you want and leave, Jack.

“Ghhru.”

Antler looks happy that I got it right that time. Putting down the card he shows me another one. A bucket.

“Hurr. Hurr.” It growls out softly.

We spend the next while doing this back and forth. Antlers would show me another card and taught me what it's called.

I'd glance over to Yellow and see that it isn't having much success in teaching the hatchling. Mostly the hatchling would confuse the dragon's growls as offers to play.

About half way through the teaching session I noticed the other white dragon with ram-like horns was watching me from the kitchen. Its face clear with curiosity and mild amazement.

“Grr hrf ffuuuf rkk.” Ram asked out to Antlers who looks over to it.

“Rrff.”

We make eye contact and after a few seconds my eyes narrow and I feel annoyed that he's looking at me. I've never liked it when someone stares at me, even if it's a dragon. But there's nothing I can do about it, he's big and I am small.

Ram lifts an eyebrow at my visible irritation and I look back to Antlers who holds up another card.

A while of learning passes and eventually Antlers does something different. It points a claw at itself and makes a different growl.

“Rggllhu.” It says to me in a purposeful way.

Is… is it trying to tell me its name? Or is it trying to teach me how to say their species name?

I copy the dragon's growl and it looks happy. Just to be sure, I point to myself and repeat it again. The dragon shakes its head and points to me and makes a new growl.

Great. So not only is it trying to teach me its name but it's also given me one. I don't want to risk attachment so I don't bother trying to remember the names.

Yellow seems to be trying to do the same with the hatchling but isn't having much success. To be fair it doesn't look like much goes on behind the hatchlings eyes anyways so I'd be surprised if it even understands what's going on.

Antlers points to Yellow and growls another name, to which I look over to the window I had tried getting to earlier to ignore any chance of learning their names.

Looking over the couch I tried to climb, I found that I should have gotten on the arm of it to get to the very top. If I can get to the seat of it again I can reach the top. Maybe.

Antlers sighs and tells Yellow something who nods in agreement. The cards are collected and put back in the box and Ram makes a comment.

_-_-_-_-_

“I’ll take care of the dishes while you two shower.” Kemok tells Galderus and Selen.

“Thank you Kemok, we won't be long.” Selen says as she picks up Kain and puts the white hatchling on her head. Kain makes cute squeaks of excitement. Her husband does the same with Kyn who now quietly sits on his fathers head.

Kyn. The black hatchling acts differently than Kain or any other hatchling she had seen. While Kain is energetic and playful, Kyn is calm, assessing everything and glares a lot.

“Oh, don't worry about it. I have to head out.” Kemok tells them.

“Why? The hospital called you in?” Galderus asks as they both get up from the couch.

“No the hospital is having a slow day so far. A friend texted me that they need help moving out.”

“Is it Boldian? Thought he just moved in the area?”

“Yah he heard the news and wants to move to North City. One lick of bad news and he jumps ship.”

“You'll be back before night, right?” Selen asks him. What he had told them about what happened when he went to get the meat had both of them worried.

Kemok nods. “I’ll be back before then. And I'll be sticking to populated streets. I'll be fine.”

“Alright. Just please be safe, brother.” Galderus tells him and the two of them enters the halls. Kemok collects a dish and puts it in the sink and begins cleaning.

Entering the bathroom they close the door behind them with a click.

“I was thinking, Selen.” Galderus says as he turns on the shower. The bathroom shower is roomy, able to hold two full grown dragons.

“That's dangerous.” Selen teases as they wait for the water to warm up.

Her comment makes him smile. “Maybe we can visit the park tomorrow after the hospital? The forecast mentioned good weather.”

Selen thought about it. “Don’t you have work tomorrow, honey?”

Galderus’s eyes widened, remembering about work. “Darn it. Maybe we can put a pin in it?”

“We can when you are free.”

Kain let out excited squeaks as he is picked up off his mothers head and placed down in the shower. He immediately runs around in the water splashing and dancing cutely. His brother is put down too who doesn't seem to care much.

Galderus and Selen join their hatchlings in the shower.

After they had helped clean each other they turn to their hatchlings to clean them too.

Galderus has Kain sit still and with a soapy brush begins scrubbing. Kain giggles as the bristles tickle him.

_-_-_-_-_

Kyn is sitting in the corner and being as observant as usual. He is unusually smart for a hatchling that recently hatched or maybe he is just acting that way? Maybe he is just watching and not knowing what's going on like his brother who is hyperactive.

Maybe I should test him? But how if he cant understand speech yet? It would have to be a physical gesture, right?

I lift a claw and Kyn’s attention returns to me. Observant little red eyes watching his mother.

I then point and tap my claw against the tiled shower floor in front of me, wanting him to come and sit.

To my surprise he stands up, with some hesitation, and pads over. As he walks his little wings hang loosely against his sides and his tail drags limply behind him. My heart clenches at the sight, a reminder that he could be disabled from his troubled hatching. I really hope Kemok can help him tomorrow at the hospital…

Kyn sits before me and we make eye contact.

Intelligence.

I can see it in his eyes. The very thing his brother lacks. Hatchlings shouldn't have that just after hatching. Yet Kyn has it already.

The brush in my claws gets to work, scrubbing his black scales.

But intelligence isn't all I can see in his eyes. There's something else there. Something familiar. Something that I see stare back at me in the mirror every morning. The same eyes that i had since i first took a life all those years ago.

Had he gotten that from me? Can such a thing even be past down?

Getting lost in thought I was stopped by Kyn putting his claw on mine, stopping my scrubbing. My eyes refocused and i saw Kyn with his claws on my yellow scales. And red soap.

Blood.

Bloody soap with black scales mixed in.

The brush clatters to the shower tiles as my heart skips and races, fear grips me.

Had I hurt him? Had I scrubbed too hard?!

The water rinses away the soap and the damage is revealed. Not much damage but scales are missing in a spot and blood is leaking out. My heart calms a bit in relief.

Hadn't Kemok mentioned that his scales are soft?

“What's wrong, Sele- oh.” Galderus notices the blood.

“I think I just hurt Kyn.”

“maybe its not as bad as it looks? I mean he isnt screaming or anything.”

Galderus is right. Kyn looks completely calm and is examining his own damaged side. Why isn't he crying? Losing your scales is painful yet he isn't even squinting his eyes. Can he even feel it? Just how messed up is Kyn’s body?

I wish tomorrow would come sooner…

“I'm going to take him to Kemok if he's still here.” I tell my husband and pick up Kyn.

“I think I heard the front door close a few minutes ago. But maybe he has some bandages in the guest room?” Galderus touches my side and I feel myself calm a bit.

“I'll look in there then.”

Placing Kyn on my head I leave Galderus in the bathroom and into the hall. Blood drips from Kyn and onto my head, leaving a red line down the side of my head. The feeling rattles old memories long buried, of a time that was taken away from me. But i push the thought away and enter the guest room.

The door creaks open and reveals the guest room. It looks just as clean as we left it other than the messy blanket and Kemok’s leather bag on a table. The bags sling half hanging off the table. Nice clean carpet and a window with open curtains, a single dragon sized mattress and a closed closet. The guestroom rarely gets used since we never had anyone stay over for that long.

“Sorry, Kemok. But I need to snoop in your bag for bandages.” I mutter to myself and open the bag.

Inside the bag are few personal belongings. A phone, identifications, coins, etc. But luckily it's mostly medical stuff.

“You were followed by a stranger earlier and you go and forget your phone, Kemok? You're worse than Galderus.”

Digging around, I collected a few of them. Bandages and disinfectant.

“Alright my little warrior. Time to fix you up.”

Placing Kyn on the table, getting some blood on it, he turns to show his damaged side. The bleeding had slowed and has stopped. Picking up the disinfectant spray can i point it to his wound. Kyn eyes the can and hesitates.

“Don’t worry, Kyn. It will clean my mistake of bacteria.”

Would he even feel the sting?

Pressing the top with a claw the can lets out a spray of disinfectant onto the wound. Kyn flinches but stays still, he does give me a glare though.

I'm flooded with relief at the sight. So his nerves do work, he's just tough.

And those red eyes. His glare will be scary when he grows up!

Unrolling the bandage I wrap it around his midsection and secure it.

“There. No more bleeding.”

Now i just have to clean the blood off of myself. And the blood on the table. And on the floor…